Shoe Tree

ABSTRACT

A shoe tree includes a rear support member, a connecting member, a driving tube, a screw member, a limiting member, a fixing member, a universal member, a stretching member and two front support members. The shoe tree is characterized by integrating the conventional single-function shoe trees, allowing users to omit the time and action of replacing shoe trees when adjusting the shoe to a required shape according to their own needs. Users only need to use a single tool to complete all the actions in one go, so as to greatly improve its practicality and convenience. The shoe tree of the invention is designed with multiple functions to meet different usage needs.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shoe tree, and more particularly to ashoe tree with multiple functions.

Related Prior Art

Shoes are not only a necessity of life in people's lives, but also havethe characteristics of beauty and representing the identity of thewearer. If the leather shoes are stored without treatment, they will bedeformed and moldy due to moisture. Because our feet are sweating everyday, the leather and the inner lining of the shoes absorb moisture, andover time the stitches will begin to corrode and even become smelly. Inthe maintenance process of leather shoes, in addition to playing theshoe trees' role in solid supporting and crease smoothing when the shoesare stored, the shoes trees can also absorb the sweat left by you duringthe day, so that the leather will not be deformed and cracked, makingthe shoes not stink but stay forever new.

The shoe trees sold on the market are usually single-function shoetrees, and there is no multi-functional design. If the user needsdifferent functions, he has to prepare many shoe trees with differentfunctions, which will cause too many tools and occupy storage space.This is quite troublesome and will increase the burden on the use of theshoe trees. In addition, replacing the shoe trees with differentfunctions is more cumbersome and inconvenient because the shoe treessold on the market generally do not have additional functions. For theaverage consumer, these conventional shoe trees are not popular.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate theafore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY

One objective of the present invention is to provide a shoe tree, whichis endowed with multiple functional designs to meet different usagerequirements.

To achieve the above objective, a shoe tree provided by the invention issuitable for being stuffed into a shoe, and the shoe has a shoe chamberwhich includes a rear support section and a front support section, theshoe tree comprises:

a rear support member including a rear support body for abutting againstthe rear support section;

a connecting member pivotally arranged to the rear support member, andincluding a connecting body, a first end located at one end of theconnecting body and pivotally connected to the rear support body, and asecond end opposite to the first end;

a driving tube sleeved on the second end of the connecting member, andincluding: a driving tube body, an outer annular surface on the drivingtube body, an inner annular surface opposite to the outer annularsurface, an annular drive portion recessed from the outer annularsurface, and a contact portion which defines a first accommodating spaceand a second accommodating space together with the inner annularsurface, wherein the first accommodating space is provided for insertionof the second end of the connecting member, and when the driving tuberotates, it will rotate with respect to the connecting member;

a screw member disposed to the second accommodating space, and includinga screw body, a limiting end formed at one end of the screw body, ascrew end opposite to the limiting end, and an external thread portionprovided on an outer surface of the screwed body;

a limiting member screwed to the screw member, and including a limitingbody, an internal thread portion formed inside the limiting body andscrewed with the external thread portion, and a limiting space formed atone end of the limiting body for receiving and limiting the limitingend;

a fixing member screwed to the screw member, and including a fixingbody, a connecting portion arranged to one end of the fixing body andscrewed to the screw end, and a groove opposite to the connectingportion;

a universal member including one end on which the fixing member issleeved, and including: a universal body, a spherical end formed at oneend of the universal body and pivotable in the groove, and a drive endopposite to the spherical end;

a stretching member including a stretching body sleeved on the driveend; and

two front support members sleeved on the fixing member, the universalmember and the stretching member, and each including a front supportbody that is abutted against the front support section, and a stretchinggroove recessed in the front support body and for the stretching memberto abut against, and the two front support bodies are driven by thestretching member to move close to or away from each other.

Preferably, the rear support body includes a top mounting surface, and apull member is fixed on the top mounting surface.

Preferably, the annular drive portion is hexagonal.

Preferably, each of the front support bodies is provided with aplurality of insertion grooves for insertion of fasteners.

Preferably, a first steel ball is provided between the contact portionof the driving tube and the second end of the connecting member.

Preferably, the stretching body includes a through hole, a washer issleeved on the universal body and located in the through hole, a pinpenetrates the universal body and abuts against the washer, and a secondsteel ball is disposed between the drive end of the universal member andthe stretching member.

In this way, the present invention provides a shoe tree, which ischaracterized by integrating the conventional single-function shoetrees, allowing users to omit the time and action of replacing shoetrees when adjusting the shoe to required shape according to their ownneeds. Users only need to use a single tool to complete all the actionsin one go, so as to greatly improve its practicality and convenience.The shoe tree of the invention is designed with multiple functions tomeet different usage needs.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram (1) of the embodiment of the presentinvention in use;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram (2) of the embodiment of the presentinvention in use;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram (3) of the embodiment of the presentinvention in use;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram (4) of the embodiment of the presentinvention in use; and

FIG. 7 is a magnified view of a part of another embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will be clearer from the following descriptionwhen viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, forpurpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordancewith the present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6, the embodiment of the presentinvention provides a shoe tree, suitable for being stuffed into a shoeS, and the shoe includes a shoe chamber 51 which includes a rear supportsection S2 and a front support section S3. The shoe tree essentiallycomprises: a rear support member 20, a connecting member 30, a drivingtube 40, a screw member 50, a limiting member 60, a fixing member 70, auniversal member 80, a stretching member 90 and two front supportmembers 100.

The rear support member 20 is made of wood, and includes a rear supportbody 21 for abutting against the rear support section S2, and a concavearc surface 22 formed on the rear support body 21. In this embodiment,the surface of the rear support body 21 is treated with a gloss paint tomake it difficult to absorb moisture. In addition, through thearrangement of the concave arc surface 22, the user can more easily takethe shoe tree out of the shoe S, thereby saving labor and time.

The connecting member 30 is elongated and pivotally arranged to the rearsupport member 20, and includes: a connecting body 31, a first end 32located at one end of the connecting body 31 and pivotally connected tothe rear support body 21, and a second end 33 opposite to the first end32.

The driving tube 40 is a hollow tube sleeved on the second end 33 of theconnecting member 30, and includes a driving tube body 41, an outerannular surface 42 on the driving tube body 41, an inner annular surface43 opposite to the outer annular surface 42, an annular drive portion 44recessed from the outer annular surface 42, and a contact portion 47which defines a first accommodating space 45 and a second accommodatingspace 46 together with the inner annular surface 43. The firstaccommodating space 45 is provided for insertion of the second end 33 ofthe connecting member 30, and a first steel ball 110 is provided betweenthe contact portion 47 of the driving tube 40 and the second end 33 ofthe connecting member 30. Accordingly, when the driving tube 40 rotates,it will idly rotate with respect to the connecting member 30. In thisembodiment, the annular drive portion 44 is hexagonal and provided forinsertion of a wrench W to rotate the driving tube 40.

The screw member 50 is elongated and partly disposed in the secondaccommodating space 46, and includes: a screw body 51, a limiting end 52formed at one end of the screw body 51, a screw end 53 opposite to thelimiting end 52, and an external thread portion 54 provided on an outersurface of the screwed body 51. When the driving tube 40 rotates, thescrew member 50 can be moved along an axial direction X, as shown inFIG. 3.

The limiting member 60 is screwed on the screw member 50, and includes:a limiting body 61, an internal thread portion 62 formed inside thelimiting body 61 and screwed with the external thread portion 54, and alimiting space 63 formed at one end of the limiting body 61 forreceiving and limiting the limiting end 52. In this embodiment, thelimiting member 60 is locked in the driving tube 40. Therefore, when thedriving tube 40 rotates, the limiting member 60 is driven to rotatesynchronously.

The fixing member 70 is screwed to the screw member 50, and includes: afixing body 71, a connecting portion 72 disposed to one end of thefixing body 71 and screwed to the screw end 53, and a groove 73 oppositeto the connecting portion 72.

The universal member 80 is elongated and includes one end on which thefixing member 70 is to be sleeved, and includes: a universal body 81, aspherical end 82 formed at one end of the universal body 81 andpivotable in the groove 73, and a drive end 83 opposite to the sphericalend 82. In this embodiment, the spherical end 82 has the effect of360-degree universal angular adjustment.

The stretching member 90 is approximately triangular, and includes: astretching body 91 sleeved on the drive end 83, and a through hole 92which is rectangular and passes through the stretching body 91. In thisembodiment, a washer 120 is sleeved on the universal body 81 and islocated in the through hole 92, a pin 130 penetrates the universal body81 and abuts against the washer 120. With the above design, when thedriving tube 40 is rotated, the contact surface area between componentscan be reduced to reduce the pressure per unit area and protect thesurfaces of the components from being damaged. In addition, a secondsteel ball 140 is disposed between the drive end 83 of the universalmember 80 and the rear end of the stretching member 90.

The two front support members 100 are sleeved on the fixing member 70,the universal member 80 and the stretching member 90, and each includesa front support body 101 that abuts against the front support sectionS3, and a stretching groove 102 recessed in the front support body 101and for the stretching member 90 to abut against. The two front supportbodies 101 can be driven by the stretching member 90 to be relativelyclose to or away from each other. When the stretching member 90 movestowards the front support section S3, the two front support bodies 101will be relatively away from each other (see FIG. 5). When thestretching member 90 moves towards the rear support section S2, the twofront support bodies 101 will move close to each other (see FIG. 4). Inthis embodiment, the surfaces of the two front support members 100 arealso treated with varnish. Each of the front support bodies 101 isprovided with a plurality of insertion grooves 1011 for insertion offasteners 150. Through the above-mentioned configuration, the effect ofexpanding and stretching the front support section S3 of the shoe S canbe achieved, allowing the user to adjust the shape according to theirown needs, to prevent the front support section S3 of the shoe S fromsqueezing and rubbing the user's toes (see FIG. 6).

The use of the shoe tree is further described as follows.

The shoe tree is first disposed in the shoe S, and the wrench W is usedto rotate the annular drive portion 44 of the driving tube 40 in aclockwise direction to drive the two front support members 100 togradually move towards the front support section S3. At this time, ifthe two front support members 100 have abutted against the front supportsection S3 and the user continues rotating the driving tube 40, the twofront support members 100 will move away from each other. It can omitthe time and actions of replacing shoe trees, and the user only needs touse a single tool to complete all the actions in one go, so as togreatly improve the practicality and convenience. If the user wants totake out the shoe tree from the shoe S, he/she only needs to use thewrench W to rotate the annular drive portion 44 of the driving tube 40in the counterclockwise direction to make the two front support members100 move back towards each other, so that the shoe tree can then betaken out of the shoe S.

It is worth mentioning that, referring to FIG. 7, in another embodiment,the rear support body 21 includes a top mounting surface 23, and a pullmember 160 is fixed on the top mounting surface 23, which makes iteasier for the user to take the shoe tree out of the shoe S, therebyachieving the purpose of saving labor and time.

The above is the configuration description of the main components of theembodiment. As for the usage and efficacy of the invention, please referto the following description.

In this way, the present invention provides a shoe tree, which ischaracterized by integrating the conventional single-function shoetrees, allowing users to omit the time and action of replacing shoetrees when adjusting the shoe to a desired shape according to their ownneeds. Users only need to use a single tool to complete all the actionsin one go, so as to greatly improve its practicality and convenience.The shoe tree of the invention is designed with multiple functions tomeet different usage needs.

While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance withthe present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art thatfurther embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoe tree, suitable for being stuffed into ashoe, and the shoe comprising a shoe chamber which includes a rearsupport section and a front support section, the shoe tree comprising: arear support member comprising a rear support body for abutting againstthe rear support section; a connecting member pivotally arranged to therear support member, and including a connecting body, a first endlocated at one end of the connecting body and pivotally connected to therear support body, and a second end opposite to the first end; a drivingtube sleeved on the second end of the connecting member, and including:a driving tube body, an outer annular surface on the driving tube body,an inner annular surface opposite to the outer annular surface, anannular drive portion recessed from the outer annular surface, and acontact portion which defines a first accommodating space and a secondaccommodating space together with the inner annular surface, wherein thefirst accommodating space is provided for insertion of the second end ofthe connecting member, and when the driving tube rotates, the drivingtube rotates with respect to the connecting member; a screw memberdisposed in the second accommodating space, and including a screw body,a limiting end formed at one end of the screw body, a screw end oppositeto the limiting end, and an external thread portion provided on an outersurface of the screwed body; a limiting member screwed to the screwmember, and including a limiting body, an internal thread portion formedinside the limiting body and screwed with the external thread portion,and a limiting space formed at one end of the limiting body forreceiving and limiting the limiting end; a fixing member screwed to thescrew member, and including a fixing body, a connecting portion providedon one end of the fixing body and screwed to the screw end, and a grooveopposite to the connecting portion; a universal member comprising oneend on which the fixing member is sleeved, and including: a universalbody, a spherical end formed at one end of the universal body andpivotable in the groove, and a drive end opposite to the spherical end;a stretching member comprising a stretching body sleeved on the driveend; and two front support members sleeved on the fixing member, theuniversal member and the stretching member, and each including a frontsupport body that is abutted against the front support section, and astretching groove recessed in the front support body and for thestretching member to abut against, wherein each of the front supportbodies is provided with a plurality of insertion grooves for insertionof fasteners, and the two front support bodies are driven by thestretching member to move close to or away from each other.
 2. The shoetree as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear support body comprising atop mounting surface, and a pull member is fixed on the top mountingsurface.
 3. The shoe tree as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annulardrive portion is hexagonal.
 4. The shoe tree as claimed in claim 1,wherein a first steel ball is provided between the contact portion ofthe driving tube and the second end of the connecting member.
 5. Theshoe tree as claimed in claim 1, wherein a through hole passes throughthe stretching body, a washer is sleeved on the universal body andlocated in the through hole, a pin penetrates the universal body andabuts against the washer, and a second steel ball is disposed betweenthe drive end of the universal member and the rear end of the stretchingmember.